Rec needs $500k for pool fix

Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 8:13 am

By Brian Mosely, editor

The Manchester recreation commission voted last week to send a recommendation to both the Manchester finance committee and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for an emergency expenditure of approximately half a million dollars to replace the aging dehumidification system for the indoor pool at the Manchester Recreation Complex.

Manchester’s recreation director Bonnie Gamble points to corroded pipes that run through the area where the indoor pool’s dehumidifier is located. The Recreation Commission is requesting around $500,000 from the city’s finance committee and the Board of Mayor and Alderman to replace the aging system, as well as installing UV disinfection equipment.–Staff photo by Brian Mosely

The commission also recommended installing a ultra-violet swim disinfection system as well for sanitizing the waters of the pool.

Mayor Lonnie Norman, who attended the meeting, said it was a project that needed to be started on.

Reasons for replacement

Recreation director Bonnie Gamble said the replacement of the dehumidification system would cost in the neighborhood of $500,000.

She added that last year, a total of $40,000 was spent on maintenance for only the dehumidification system.

The chlorine is also not venting properly, and that makes it into the air, which is also causing corrosion around the recreation center.

The current dehumidification system is 14 years old, and Gamble said the issue is now about the health of the center employees, as well as anyone who uses the pool.

The request will have to pass the Manchester Finance Committee and the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Other business

In other recreation business, the outdoor pool will open only on Saturday’s and Sunday’s, as well as Tuesday and Thursday evening until Labor Day.

Amazing Family Night is set for Aug, 19, while the Star Tri Athlon and Race for the Ages will take place Sept. 3

A Dog Pool Party is set for Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. until noon with soccer starting on the same day. For more information on these events, call the recreation center at (931) 728-0273.

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